1st X1 Match Report

DUFF ROSE BOWL FINAL

FDMC CENTRAL FINANCE (2) v WAITARA (5)


WAITARA IN COMFORTABLE CUP FINAL SUCCESS

By ROBIN MARTIN - Taranaki Daily News | Monday, 15 September 2008


A classy hat-trick from John Fletcher guided Waitara to a comfortable 5-2 victory in soccer's Duff Rosebowl final against Francis Douglas Memorial College at the Merrilands Domain in New Plymouth on Saturday.

The veteran marksman's first strike on 36 minutes broke the deadlock after Waitara had failed to make the most of its early dominance.

Dead-ball specialist Malcolm Bourgoise found Fletcher unmarked in the box with a pinpoint free kick after the striker had checked his run. He placed his header back across the goal giving the stranded Francis Douglas keeper no chance.

The college side, which had started tentatively and was perhaps lucky not to have conceded earlier, sparked into life after going behind.

Tomas Mosquera got free on the right and his mishit shot was cleared scrappily at the back post as his strike partners stood poised to pounce.

Francis Douglas player-coach Ian McGrath also hit a series of threatening crosses after his side won a succession of free kicks, but Waitara weathered the storm and went to the break with its 1-0 advantage intact.

Already premier league champion, Waitara etched its name on the Rosebowl trophy after the interval with a double strike, which effectively ended the contest.

On 52 minutes Bourgoise, playing for the first time after a lengthy injury break, was again the provider and Fletcher the finisher. This time Bourgoise's free kick found the striker at the back post and he rose amid a pack of bodies to score with his head.

Just three minutes later, Josh Herlihy smashed home a half-volley, after the school side again failed to clear a Bourgoise cross.

In what had already been an entertaining match, it always looked likely there would be more goals, and Fletcher completed his hat-trick before the schoolboys got in on the act.

Andrew Crowe got Francis Douglas on the scoresheet in the 66th minute, much to the joy of its vocal supporters, when he shot under Waitara keeper Ocko Martens.

The school side rallied briefly before Jason Osborne scored from close range to make it 5-1 in Waitara's favour and end any hopes of an improbable comeback. To its credit, Francis Douglas never let up and its midfield enforcer Dom Squatriti was able to notch another late consolation goal.

For Waitara, securing the Duff Rosebowl and a second successive league title could mark the end of an era with several of its senior players expected to end their first team careers - that is if the prospect of a three-peat doesn't get the better of them.

HAWERA D won Soccer Taranaki's Nimmo Cup, beating New Plymouth side Peringa 2-1 in a tight game in the men's senior soccer final at New Plymouth's Merrilands Domain on Saturday. Grant White opened the scoring for Hawera D, with Kieran O'Neil equalising for Peringa just before the halftime break. Brant McDonald won it for Hawera D with a penalty goal late in the match.